Hampden's Bergamot
PearHampden's Bergamot
Origin/History
An old variety of uncertain or unknown origin. Downing notes it possesses many synonyms and its provenance is unknown. Hedrick similarly describes it as "an old variety of uncertain origin and possessing many synonyms," citing Hogg's Fruit Manual (1884) as a reference. Elliott lists it simply as "Foreign."
Tree
Not described in any source.
Fruit
Size: Large, across all three sources.
Form: Sources disagree. Downing describes it as "roundish oblate, a little rising at the stalk end." Hedrick describes it as "globular, narrowing abruptly to the stalk, even and regular in outline." Elliott describes it as "roundish obovate."
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Greenish yellow (Downing) or pale greenish-yellow (Hedrick) or yellow (Elliott), with traces and patches of thin russet and greenish russet dots (Downing); Hedrick similarly notes traces of thin russet and greenish dots, and adds that there is sometimes a tinge of brownish-red on the sun-exposed side.
Flesh/Flavor: White, somewhat coarse-grained, buttery, sweet, and agreeable, across Downing and Hedrick. Downing specifies "a little coarse, tender, half buttery"; Hedrick says "rather coarse-grained, buttery." Quality assessment differs: Downing rates it "Good"; Hedrick calls it "handsome, but hardly more than second class."
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September, consistently across all three sources.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Elliott notes two related varieties he considers distinct: a Summer Bergamot, described as small, roundish, and yellowish green, ripening around August 1st; and a Large Summer Bergamot. Elliott groups all three — Hampden's Bergamot, Summer Bergamot, and Large Summer Bergamot — together as "equally worthless."
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Hampden's Bergamot.
Bergamotte d'Angleterre. Bergamotte de Bruxelles. Fingal's. Bergamotte d'Ete Grosse. Scotch Bergamot. Bergamotte de Paysans. Ellanrioch. Gracieuse. Milan Vert. Fanfareau. Longueville d'Ecosse. Great Bergamotte. Hampden. Deutsche National Bergamotte. Beuzard. Poire sans Pepins. Belle et Bonne. Belle de Bruxelles. Belle sans Pepins. Sans Pepins. Belle de Luxembourg. Schone and Gute.
An old variety, the origin of which is unknown.
Fruit large, roundish oblate, a little rising at the stalk end, greenish yellow, with traces and patches of thin russet, and greenish russet dots. Flesh white, a little coarse, tender, half buttery, sweet, agreeable. Good. September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Hampden Bergamot.
i. Hogg Fruit Man. 591. 1884.
An old variety of uncertain origin and possessing many synonyms. Fruit large, globular, narrowing abruptly to the stalk, even and regular in outline, pale greenish-yellow, with traces of thin russet and greenish dots, sometimes a tinge of brownish-red next the sun; flesh white, rather coarse-grained, buttery, sweet, agreeable; handsome, but hardly more than second class; Sept.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Hampden's Bergamot. Bergamot d'Angleterre, | Ellanrioch, | Bergamot d'Ete. Fingals, | Summer Bergamot, Foreign. Large, roundish obovate, yellow. September. There is also a Summer Bergamot, small, roundish, yellowish green ; and a Large Summer Bergamot, all equally worthless. Ripens 1st of August.